UCLA vs. UVA

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and University of Virginia Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Los Angeles
University of Virginia Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • UVA Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • UVA 26,409
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • UVA #58
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • UVA -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • UVA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • UVA $21,803
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • UVA $59,512
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • UVA $14,800
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • UVA $18,427
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • UVA $28,715
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • UVA 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • UVA 58,951
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • UVA 9,909
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • UVA 40%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • UVA 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • UVA 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • UVA 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • UVA A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • UVA Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • UVA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • UVA 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • UVA Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • UVA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • UVA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • UVA 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • UVA $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • UVA 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • UVA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • UVA $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • UVA 45%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • UVA 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • UVA Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • UVA No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • UVA 60%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • UVA 13%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • UVA 5%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • UVA 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • UVA 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • UVA 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • UVA 29%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCLA Yes
  • UVA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCLA No
  • UVA No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCLA Yes
  • UVA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCLA No
  • UVA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCLA Yes
  • UVA Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than UVA based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 26,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

UCLA vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or UVA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Los Angeles than UVA ($14,512 vs. $18,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 19.4% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($14,800 vs. $18,369).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 43.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $6,600 more per year; $21,803.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at UVA than at University of California Los Angeles (about $10,109 more per year; $59,512.00 vs. $49,403.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at University of Virginia Main Campus (49% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 12% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($28,715 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. UVA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or UVA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UVA and UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 60 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming UVA students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at UCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; UVA - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at UVA (3.85).
  • UVA has a higher acceptance rate (16.8%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 40% at UVA.

UCLA vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and UVA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than University of California Los Angeles's (90%).
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than UCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $70,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $3,200 lower median loan debt than UVA graduates ($16,300 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UVA graduates ($168 vs. $201).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.